Light pipe optical coupling between led and fiber optics cable

Abstract

In combination, a mounting structure having a longitudinal axis; an LED having a light emitter and a light-passing lens oriented along the axis; a cable having optical fibers defining a light entrance end in a location facing longitudinally toward the LED and spaced therefrom; and a light-reflecting light pipe located longitudinally between the LED lens and the cable entrance end.

I claim: 
     
       1. In combination, a) a mounting means having a longitudinal axis,   b) an LED having a light emitter and a light-passing lens oriented along said axis,   c) a cable having optical fibers defining a light entrance end in a location facing longitudinally toward the LED and spaced therefrom, and   d) a light-reflecting light pipe located longitudinally between the LED lens and said cable entrance end,   e) and including a hollow connector connected to said mounting means and having a first portion to receive said cable and to position said cable entrance end at said location, the connector having grip means thereon to grip the cable and to resist endwise withdrawal of the cable relative to said connector and mounting means.   
     
     
       2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said light pipe tapers toward said entrance end. 
     
     
       3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said light pipe has a generally conical surface oriented to reflect light rays from the LED lens toward said cable entrance end. 
     
     
       4. The combination of claim 3 wherein a plane containing said axis intersects said conical surface along lines concave toward said axis. 
     
     
       5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said emitter has a center located at one of the following positions: on said axis   spaced from said axis at a side thereof.   
     
     
       6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said LED lens is convex toward said light pipe. 
     
     
       7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said light pipe has a relatively large entrance end and a relatively small exit end, said entrance end proximate said LED lens, and said exit end proximate said cable entrance end. 
     
     
       8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes a housing in which said light pipe is received. 
     
     
       9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the housing also receives the LED. 
     
     
       10. The combination of claim 8 including means on the mounting means to attach to a panel, outwardly of the connector. 
     
     
       11. The combination of claim 10 including a hole in the panel to receive a portion of the connector that connects to the mounting means. 
     
     
       12. The combination of claim 1 wherein said connector and said mounting means have telescopic interfit. 
     
     
       13. The combination of claim 12 including a mounting panel to which said connector is connected. 
     
     
       14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said panel defines an opening receiving said connector. 
     
     
       15. The combination of claim 1 including a circuit board to which said mounting means is connected. 
     
     
       16. The combination of claim 15 including a projection on said mounting means and received by the circuit board to locate said mounting means relative to said board. 
     
     
       17. The combination of claim 15 wherein the LED has terminals projecting for electrical connection to circuitry on said board. 
     
     
       18. The combination of claim 1 including a circuit board to which said mounting means is connected. 
     
     
       19. The combination of claim 18 including a projection on said mounting means and received by the circuit board to locate said mounting means relative to said board. 
     
     
       20. The combination of claim 1 wherein said grip means comprises barb means on the connector. 
     
     
       21. The combination of claim 1 including an LED support having grip connection to a base defined by the LED, and retention means on the support to retain LED terminals. 
     
     
       22. The combination of claim 21 wherein said retention means includes a closure having hinged connection to the support to swing downwardly and retain LED terminals in position deflected to project toward a circuit board. 
     
     
       23. The combination of claim 21 including a projection on the support for connection to a circuit board. 
     
     
       24. The combination of claim 21 wherein said support has five through openings to pass LED leads, three of said openings spaced apart to pass the three leads of a tri-lead LED, and two of said openings spaced apart to pass the two leads of a bi-lead LED. 
     
     
       25. The combination of claim 1 including means integral with the mounting means to retain the LED in fixed axial position. 
     
     
       26. In combination, a) a mounting means having a longitudinal axis,   b) an LED having a light emitter and a light-passing lens oriented along said axis,   c) a cable having optical fibers defining a light entrance end in a location facing longitudinally toward the LED and spaced therefrom, and   d) a light-reflecting light pipe located longitudinally between the LED lens and said cable entrance end,   e) and including spring fingers on the mounting means retaining the LED in fixed axial position after endwise insertion of the LED between said fingers and into the mounting means.   
     
     
       27. The method of forming a combination that includes: a) a mounting means having a longitudinal axis,   b) an LED having a light emitter and a light-passing lens oriented along said axis,   c) a cable having optical fibers defining a light entrance end in a location facing longitudinally toward the LED and spaced therefrom, and   d) a light-reflecting light pipe located longitudinally between the LED lens and said cable entrance end, said method including attaching said mounting means containing said LED and light pipe to a support structure, and then endwise inserting said cable into said mounting means to bring said entrance end into said location, and including providing a cable connector, attaching the connector to said mounting means, and providing grip means on the connector to grip the cable and hold the cable at said location.   
     
     
       28. The method of claim 27 including providing said support structure in the form of one of the following: a circuit board   a panel defining an opening receiving said mounting means.   
     
     
       29. In combination, a) a mounting means having a longitudinal axis,   b) an LED having a light emitter and a light-passing lens oriented along said axis,   c) a cable having optical fibers defining a light entrance end in a location facing longitudinally toward the LED and spaced therefrom,   d) a light-reflecting light pipe located longitudinally between the LED lens and said cable entrance end,   e) and including a detector operatively coupled to the cable to detect light signals transmitted by the cable.   
     
     
       30. The combination of claim 29 wherein the detector includes an LED-type device having an envelope proximate an end of the cable, and there being mounting means for said device having spring fingers retaining and positioning the device.